Noahdendron

Last updated

Noadendron
Noadendron-nicholasii-SF21195-3.jpg
Flowering in Cairns Botanic Gardens
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Saxifragales
Family: Hamamelidaceae
Subfamily: Hamamelidoideae
Tribe: Dicorypheae
Genus: Noahdendron
P.K.Endress, B.Hyland & Tracey [2] [3]
Species:
N. nicholasii
Binomial name
Noahdendron nicholasii
P.K.Endress, B.Hyland & Tracey [4] [5]

Noadendron is a monotypic genus - i.e. a genus containing only one species - of plants in the witch-hazel family Hamamelidaceae. It is the third described of three monotypic Australian genera in this family, the others being Ostrearia and Neostrearia . It is most closely related to these genera, as well as Trichocladus (4 species) from southern Africa and Dicoryphe (13 species) from Madagascar, and together these five genera form a distinct clade within Hamamelidaceae. [6]

Contents

The sole species in this genus is Noahdendron nicholasii, commonly known as noahdendron, was described in 1985 and is endemic to the rainforests of northeastern Queensland, Australia.

Description

Noahdendron nicholasii is a small tree growing to about 10 m (33 ft) tall. The simple leaves are oblong to elliptic and measure up to 30 cm (12 in) long by 10 cm (3.9 in) wide. The stipules are large and leaf-like ( foliose ), about 2 cm (0.79 in) long, 1 cm (0.39 in) wide and ovate. [7] [8] [9]

The inflorescence is terminal (i.e. it is produced from the very end of the branch) and it takes the form of a spike. It is about 7 cm (2.8 in) long, bearing numerous small sessile flowers. The calyces are brown, the petals are purple, pink or red and about 5 mm (0.20 in) long. [7] [8] [9]

The fruit is a small, brown, 2-lobed, woody capsule, densely covered in fine brown hairs, each lobe containing a brown seed about 7 mm (0.28 in) long. [7] [8] [9]

Taxonomy

This species was first described by the Swiss botanist Peter Karl Endress, working with the Australian botanists Bernard Hyland and John Geoffrey Tracey. Their description was based on material collected separately by Tracey and Hyland from Noah Creek near Cape Tribulation, and their work was published in the journal Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie in 1985. [4] [8]

Etymology

The genus name Noahdendron is from the location where the plant grows, Noah Creek, combined with the Ancient Greek word δένδρον (dendron), meaning tree. The species epithet nicholasii is for John Nicholas, a local resident who was involved in the discovery of the plant. [9] [10]

Distribution and habitat

Noahdendron is entirely restricted to a single catchment in the Daintree National Park. Noah Creek is about 8 km (5.0 mi) south of Cape Tribulation, and it is within this watershed that the species occurs. The altitudinal range of the plant is from sea level to 500 m (1,600 ft), and the area of occupancy is just 7 km2 (2.7 sq mi). [lower-alpha 1] [8] [9] [11] [12]

Conservation

This species is listed by the Queensland Government's Department of Environment, Science and Innovation as endangered. [1] As of 24 February 2024, it has not been assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Related Research Articles

<i>Idiospermum</i> Species of tree

Idiospermum is a monotypic genus in the family Calycanthaceae. The sole included species is Idiospermum australiense − commonly known as idiotfruit, ribbonwood, or dinosaur tree − which is found only in two small areas of the tropical rainforests of northeastern Queensland, Australia. It is a relic of the ancient forests of Gondwana, surviving in very localised refugia for 120 million years, and displaying features that are almost identical to fossil records from that time. As such it provides an important insight into the very early evolution of flowering plants.

<i>Atractocarpus fitzalanii</i> Species of plant in the family Rubiaceae

Atractocarpus fitzalanii, commonly known as the brown gardenia or yellow mangosteen, is a species of plant in the coffee and madder family Rubiaceae. It is found in coastal parts of tropical Queensland, Australia. The beautifully scented flowers and glossy foliage has seen this plant enter cultivation in gardens of eastern Australia.

Bernard Hyland, known as Bernie Hyland, is an Australian botanist.

Hollandaea is a small genus of plants in the family Proteaceae containing four species of Australian rainforest trees. All four species are endemic to restricted areas of the Wet Tropics of northeast Queensland.

<i>Nothorites</i> Monotypic genus of plants in the family Proteaceae

Nothorites is a monotypic genus in the macadamia family Proteaceae. The sole species, Nothorites megacarpus, is endemic to the wet tropics rain forests of northeastern Queensland, Australia.

<i>Eupomatia barbata</i> Species of flowering plant

Eupomatia barbata, also known as the small bolwarra, is a species of plant in the primitive family Eupomatiaceae. It is endemic to Queensland, Australia, and was first described in 2002.

<i>Syzygium alliiligneum</i> Species of plant in the family Myrtaceae

Syzygium alliiligneum, commonly known as onionwood, Mission Beach satinash or bark in the wood is a species of plant in the family Myrtaceae. It is endemic to a small part of north eastern Queensland.

<i>Syzygium canicortex</i> Species of tree

Syzygium canicortex, commonly known as yellow satinash, is a tree in the family Myrtaceae native to Queensland, Australia, first described in 1983.

<i>Gardenia actinocarpa</i> Species of plant in the family Rubiaceae

Gardenia actinocarpa is a rare and endangered plant in the coffee and gardenia family Rubiaceae, native to a very restricted area within the Wet Tropics rainforest of northeastern Queensland.

<i>Baileyoxylon</i> Genus of plants in the family Achariaceae

Baileyoxylon is a monotypic genus in the family Achariaceae. The sole described species is Baileyoxylon lanceolatum which is restricted to a very small part of the Wet Tropics of Queensland. It was described in the mid 20th century.

<i>Neostrearia</i> Genus of plant in the family Hamamelidaceae

Neostrearia is a monotypic genus - i.e. a genus containing only one species - of plants in the witch-hazel family Hamamelidaceae. It is the second described of three monotypic Australian genera in this family, the others being Ostrearia and Noahdendron. It is most closely related to these genera, as well as Trichocladus from southern Africa and Dicoryphe from Madagascar, and together these five genera form a distinct clade within Hamamelidaceae.

<i>Ostrearia</i> Genus of plant in the family Hamamelidaceae

Ostrearia is a monotypic genus - i.e. a genus containing only one species - of plants in the witch-hazel family Hamamelidaceae. It is the first described of three monotypic Australian genera in this family, the others being Neostrearia and Noahdendron. It is most closely related to these genera, as well as Trichocladus from southern Africa and Dicoryphe from Madagascar, and together these five genera form a distinct clade within Hamamelidaceae.

Argophyllum iridescens is a plant in the Argophyllaceae family endemic to a small part of north eastern Queensland. It was described and named in 2018.

<i>Meiogyne hirsuta</i> Species of flowering plant

Meiogyne hirsuta is a plant in the custard apple family Annonaceae endemic to the Wet Tropics bioregion of Queensland, Australia. It is known from only a small number of collections from three widely separated locations.

<i>Piper interruptum</i> Species of flowering plant

Piper interruptum is a vine in the pepper family Piperaceae, native to the eastern parts of Southeast Asia and to Melanesia and Queensland.

<i>Ryparosa kurrangii</i> Species of flowering plant

Ryparosa kurrangii is a rare plant in the family Achariaceae which is endemic to a very small part of the Queensland tropical rain forests. It is a small tree growing under the rainforest canopy, producing its flowers and fruit on the lower part of the trunk. It was previously considered to be a form of the Ryparosa javanica complex of species.

<i>Aglaia ferruginea</i> Species of flowering plant

Aglaia ferruginea, commonly known as rusty boodyarra or rusty Aglaia, is a plant in the mahogany family Meliaceae that is native to northern Queensland, Australia. The name A. tomentosa has been misapplied to the species in the past.

<i>Debregeasia australis</i> Species of flowering plant

Debregeasia australis, commonly known as china grass or native ramie, is a plant in the nettle family Urticaceae endemic to Queensland, Australia.

<i>Xanthophyllum fragrans</i> Species of flowering plant

Xanthophyllum fragrans, commonly known as fragrant boxwood, is an evergreen plant in the family Polygalaceae found only in the Wet Tropics bioregion of Queensland, Australia.

<i>Syzygium graveolens</i> Species of flowering plant

Syzygium graveolens, commonly known as cassowary satinash, is a plant in the eucalyptus family Myrtaceae found only in the Wet Tropics bioregion of Queensland, Australia.

References

  1. 1 2 "Species profile—Noahdendron nicholasii". Queensland Department of Environment and Science. Queensland Government. 2022. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  2. "Noahdendron". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research, Australian Government . Retrieved 26 February 2024.
  3. "Noahdendron P.K.Endress, B.Hyland & Tracey". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2024. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
  4. 1 2 "Noahdendron nicholasii". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research, Australian Government . Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  5. "Noahdendron nicholasii P.K.Endress, B.Hyland & Tracey". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2024. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  6. Li, Jianhua; Klein, Anita S. (1999). "Phylogenetic relationships in the Hamamelidaceae: Evidence from the nucleotide sequences of the plastid gene matK". Plant Systematics and Evolution. 218 (3): 212. Bibcode:1999PSyEv.218..205L. doi:10.1007/BF01089228. S2CID   25179689.
  7. 1 2 3 Hewson, H.J. (2022). "Noahdendron nicholasii". Flora of Australia . Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 F.A.Zich; B.P.M.Hyland; T.Whiffen; R.A.Kerrigan (2020). "Noahdendron nicholasii". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants Edition 8 (RFK8). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government . Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 Cooper, Wendy; Cooper, William T. (June 2004). Fruits of the Australian Tropical Rainforest. Clifton Hill, Victoria, Australia: Nokomis Editions. p. 227. ISBN   978-0958174213.
  10. Harper, Douglas. "dendro-". Etymology Online. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  11. "Search: species: Noahdendron nicholasii | Occurrence records". Australasian Virtual Herbarium . Australian Government . Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  12. "Spatial Portal". Atlas of Living Australia. Retrieved 24 February 2024.

Notes

  1. For a definition of Area of Occupancy see this page at the Atlas of Living Australia